Orientation & Mobility Credential: Special Education

The Clinical Rehabilitative Services Credential program in Orientation & Mobility (O&M) qualifies graduates to teach individuals who are blind or visually impaired the skills needed to navigate the environment safely and efficiently. Orientation and Mobility specialists work individually with people of all ages from birth through adulthood. Depending upon the age of the learner, orientation & mobility specialists teach skills such as concept development; sensorimotor functioning; use of a long cane and remaining vision; and how to familiarize oneself to a new building or location. Additional skills involve independent travel in residential neighborhoods, shopping malls, and business areas; crossing streets safely, using public transportation, and essentially all skills needed to navigate the environment safely and efficiently. Instruction may take place outdoors and indoors - in home, school, and community settings.  A two semester sequence of supervised clinical fieldwork and student teaching ensures that candidates are able to apply the knowledge and skills acquired through course content and assignments in a variety of orientation and mobility rehabilitation and school settings.

Orientation & Mobility Credential: Special Education

Core (6 units)

SPED 747Physical Disabilities and Sensory Impairments3
SPED 788Law, Ethics, and Instructional Planning3

Advanced Methods Courses (28 units)

SPED 655Basic Orientation and Mobility for Learners with Visual Impairments3
SPED 749Medical, Educational, and Rehabilitative Implications of Visual Impairment4
SPED 753Living Skills Assessment and Instruction for Learners with Visual Impairments3
SPED 756Orientation and Mobility Seminar3
SPED 757Visual Impairment: Special Populations3
SPED 760Methods in Orientation and Mobility I3
SPED 792Methods in Orientation and Mobility II3
SPED 822Methods in Orientation and Mobility III3
SPED 823Methods in Orientation and Mobility IV3

Clinical Fieldwork & Student Teaching (15 units)

SPED 726Workshop: Student Teaching Support Sessions for Mild/Moderate Support Needs or Orientation Mobility3
SPED 730Student Teaching: Special Education9
SPED 731Special Education Field Experience3